Wayside Lawyers

DISCLAIMER This site is intended to provide you with information about our firm and practice. Use of this, however, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any decision with respect to legal services is important and should not be based solely upon this, or any other, advertisement. Information and/or any materials provided herein, are solely for the purpose of information. Attorney Keri Haralson Carroll is only admitted to practice law in the State of Mississippi. This shall not be construed as an attempt to certify or designate attorney as an expert in any particular area of the law in the...

Author of the book "Divorce in Mississippi", Jon has extensive trial experience in all matters concerning divorce, family law, estates, guardianships and conservatorships and real estate related issues. Jon's 23 years of experience and practical common sense approach in representing clients and seeking solutions to their problems makes Jon different from other lawyers in his desire to efficiently get the client what they want instead of seeking for more ways to bill the client.

Gregory is a co-founding member of the firm. Gregory left in 2012 to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. President Barack Obama nominated him to the position where he served from 2012 to 2017. During his time as U.S. Attorney, he focused his office’s efforts on preventing violent crime, protecting civil rights, tackling Mississippi’s prescription drug and heroin crisis, prosecuting corrupt public officials, and engaging our youth on the dangers of drugs, violence and gangs.

Over the years, he has represented hundreds of clients from every walk of life. Gregory had experience on both sides of...

Michael Williams has represented injured people in Mississippi for over thirty years, including state and federal court Plaintiffs, and hundreds of Claimants before the Mississippi Worker's Compensation Commission. Michael has also handled over a thousand consumer bankruptcy cases.

Michael Williams was reared in rural Hinds County, Mississippi in the Utica area. He attended Millsaps College and Tulane University Law School. He is admitted to practice law in all Mississippi state courts, including the Mississippi Supreme Court. He is also admitted to the Northern and Southern District Federal Courts of Mississippi, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Michael...

Flip Phillips is a founding partner of Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law where he served as President of the Law School Student Body and Member of the Mississippi Law Journal. For over 40 years, Flip has represented plaintiffs and insurance policyholders nationwide. Flip’s landmark cases have helped abolish sovereign immunity and define the rules of automobile insurance in Mississippi. They have expanded the role of punitive and extra-contractual damages in insurance regulation and contract enforcement throughout the United States. Flip has served...

A native of Mississippi, Benjamin N. Philley was born in Jackson, Mississippi and grew up in Grenada, Mississippi and the Mississippi Delta. Ben is one of the founding shareholders of Kilpatrick & Philley, Attorneys at Law. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business and Finance from the University of Mississippi in 1998 and his Law Degree from the Mississippi College School of Law, where he was an active member of Law Review. While in school, Ben clerked for law firms specializing in both personal injury litigation and civil defense. Upon graduation from law school, Ben became an associate with Wise Carter...

Madison County Attorney Pamela L. Hancock proudly serves the people of the Greater Jackson area. As the founder of the Hancock Law Firm, she takes pride in her ability to guide clients through a number of complex or emotional matters, including family law, personal injury, criminal defense, estate planning, and much more. She uses her diverse background and education, as well as her commitment to the law, to create comprehensive case strategies that look at the matter from multiple angles. She has earned a positive reputation within the community and among her former clients and can skillfully handle issues in...

Lee Watt is a native of Batesville, MS. He practiced law on the Mississippi Gulf Coast until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina caused his relocation to the Jackson metro area.
Lee has tried over 100 cases, mostly jury cases, in state and federal courts across Mississippi. These cases involve banking, corporate, product liability, real estate, probate, construction and employment matters. His clients include both leading national manufacturers as well as local small businesses, governmental entities, health care professionals and financial institutions.
Lee enjoys helping businesses and ministries grow and become better managers of their human and financial resources. Lee also enjoys helping...

Charles M. Merkel, III was born and raised in Clarksdale, MS. He attended the University of Mississippi for his undergraduate and law degrees, graduating with honors both times. While at Ole’ Miss as an undergraduate, he was awarded the Taylor Medal for English; this is the University’s highest academic honor, awarded to less than 1% of the student body. Upon graduation, he received the coveted position as a judicial law clerk for US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division.

Admitted to Practice in all Mississippi State and Federal Courts and in the Supreme Court of Mississippi as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Has appeared before all 8 current Judges in the Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission. Successfully represented countless number of injured clients in settlements, trials, and on appeals to the Workers’ Compensation Full Commission and to the Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

Terence attended Mississippi State University on athletic scholarship and played college football. He received his B.A. in Accounting from Mississippi State University in 1992. Also, he received his M.A. in Accounting from the University of Mississippi in 1995. In 1999, he received his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. Terence was an associate with the law firm of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams in their Jackson, MS office from 1999 to 2001. He was an associate with the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz from 2002 to...

Bernard C. Jones, Jr. was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1984. Before entering law school, Bernard served as the Legal Assistance Coordinator for the Mississippi office of the Emergency Land Fund, a nonprofit group which provided education, loans and legal assistance to minority landowners in the south. He also worked as a Title Abstractor for one of Mississippi's largest law firms while in law school. In both positions, he acquired a wealth of knowledge in the area of real property law. Bernard has a particular interest in heir property issues. Bernard testified as an expert witness for the first...

Rob was born in Traverse City, MI and raised in El Paso, TX. He is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans and Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. Rob enjoys fishing, reading, golf and automobile racing. He loves to cook with his family and is an avid Major League Baseball and NFL fan.

EDUCATION
Tulane University – B.A. English
Loyola University Chicago School of Law – J.D.
Frankfurt International School
ROB’S LEGAL ASSISTANTS
Magdalene Bedi
Eyona Nelson

MEMBER
Colorado Bar Association
Louisiana Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association
Mississippi Bar Association

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN
Colorado
Louisiana
Mississippi

Attorney Rick D. Patt brings twenty-eight (28) years of experience as an attorney to your case. The Patt Law Firm represents clients in cases involving:

1) Family law (divorce, child custody, child support, modifications, and adoptions);
2) Civil litigation (plaintiff/defense/ personal injury/wrongful death/18-wheeler/automobile accidents, etc);
3) Criminal defense (felony, misdemeanor, drug and DUI defense), and expungements;
4) Wills, trusts and estate work; and
5) Appellate representation in the state and federal courts.

Such representation...

We specialize in helping Mississippians with their financial problems.

Nick Norris is a labor and employment lawyer with over 9 years of experience. In that time he has represented clients in over 600 employment cases across the nation.

Ronald C. Morton, LL.M., CELA, is the founding member of the Morton Law Firm, PLLC. His statewide practice is focused on estate planning, asset protection planning, elder law, business planning, and Medicaid planning. Mr. Morton graduated cum laude from Mississippi College in 1988 with a double major in public administration and applied sociology. In 1992 he earned a Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law. He was awarded a Masters of Law in Taxation with Honors from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2007, and has earned the designation of...

I was born in Crosby, North Dakota. Prior to the study of law, I served in the United States Coast Guard from 1990-1995. I was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 following my graduation from the University of Mississippi School of Law. I am a member of the Coahoma County Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar and the Mississippi Association for Justice.

My name is Robert Bradford Jones. My friends call me Brad. I have a broad and diversified legal background with more than 10 years experience in real estate law, land title law, business law and tax law. Currently, I am Vice President, Claims Counsel for Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company. As Claims Counsel, I analyze and make insurance coverage decisions. I also review land titles and make determinations on the best way to cure title defects. In my role as Claims Counsel, I monitor numerous litigation matters in a productive and cost-effective manner. I am a frequent lecturer to attorneys and real...

James S. Beam is a native of Baton Rouge, LA and an Eagle Scout (1992). Mr. Beam is a 1999 graduate of Louisiana State University and a 2002 graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law where he earned his J.D. Mr. Beam is admitted to practice in all Federal and State courts in the State of Mississippi and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, LA. Mr Beam has experience in a wide range of subjects including insurance investigations and litigation, personal injury, workers’ compensation, social security and opioid claims. His clients include everyone from...

Born July 24, 1984 to the late Mr. Jesse Adams and Mrs. Viola Adams in Grenada, Ms. At the tender age of six, she knew that she wanted to be an attorney to make a difference in her community. She graduated with honors from the Grenada High School in 2002 and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Being a talented musician and avid learner, she continued her studies at the University of Memphis. At the University of Memphis, her honors entailed Dean's List, National Dean's List, Whoâs Who Among American College Students and has been nominated as a Candidate...

John W. Robinson III is an attorney with more than 20 years of litigation experience representing people and business throughout Mississippi. John's primary focus is civil litigation-non-criminal cases in court, usually involving claims for money damages. John also counsels and represents clients in contract negotiations and other business transactions. John's civil litigation and trial experience is extensive and includes cases involving a wide variety of matters, such as contract disputes, business torts, employment issues, real estate and land use controversies, intellectual property, commercial sales disputes, construction, insurance coverage and defense, products liability, personal injury, wrongful death and mass tort claims,...

University of Southern Mississippi (B.S., with highest honors, 1982)
University of Mississippi (J.D., cum laude, 1985)

Mr. Panter has been a member of the Mississippi Bar since 1985. He has a wide range of experience, with a focus on business and employment disputes.

Lawsuits can be time-consuming and costly. For this reason, Mr. Panter works hard to resolve his clients’ disputes out of court, saving them valuable time and money. He will not hesitate, however, to file a lawsuit when necessary to protect their interests.

Business clients of Mr. Panter have included healthcare providers, oil and...

Dartmouth College - B.A. - 1980

University of Virginia School of Law - J.D. - 1983

Thirty-four years of experience practicing immigration law. Mr. Schwindaman handles both family-based and work-based visas, asylum cases, and citizenship cases.

Susan G. Pinkston, PLLC was formed in November of 1996 and is located in Ridgeland MS. Mrs. Pinkston, the primary member, spent the first fourteen years of her legal career with two well established multi-service law firms in downtown Jackson, as an associate and then partner. The firm’s areas of practice include real estate closings, wills and estates, mediation and arbitration, oil and gas, corporate formation and title insurance.

Richard Schwartz founded Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A. more than 40 years ago. As a life-long resident of Jackson, Mississippi, he is dedicated to serving his local community with exceptional legal services. He handles an array of personal injury cases, including car accidents, maritime, drug recalls, birth injury, premises liability, workers' compensation, and more. Mr. Schwartz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Millsap's College, along with his Juris Doctor Degree from the University Of Mississippi School Of Law in 1978. While in law school, Mr. Schwartz was a member of Phi Delta Phi Honor Fraternity and an...

John G. Holaday

John graduated Cum Laude from Mississippi State University with a B.A. degree, major in English. He attended Ole Miss law school and graduated Cum Laude in May of 1994. At Ole Miss law school, John served on the Law Journal Editorial Board, the Moot Court Board and received several scholarships. Immediately after graduation, he began a one year law clerk position with United States District Judge Charles W. Pickering, Sr. After the clerkship, he went to work for Langston Frazer Sweet & Freese. At Langston Frazer, John primarily handled complex civil litigation including...